Gardaí have issued an appeal for information regarding the killing and beheading of a stag in north Dublin in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Staff in north Dublin parklands believe a stag that was found beheaded may have been killed between 1am and 2am yesterday.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have been travelling in the vicinity of Newbridge Demesne between midnight and 2.30am yesterday morning to contact them.
In particular they wish to speak to anyone who may have camera footage, incluing dash-cam, and who may have been travelling on the R126, Cobbe's Lane or Turvey Avenue during those hours.
Fingal County Council said it is appealing for information following the "callous killing of [an] iconic stag" at Newbridge House in Donabate.
"We have some information from one of our pedestrian gate counters at the Kilcrea Gate, which is on the Hearse Road, so there was activity between 1am and 2am in the morning, which was Thursday morning," Foreman Ivan Smith said.
"Also, there were reports from locals of gunshots, two gunshots heard around 1.10am," Mr Smith said.
"We're thinking maybe a car might have been parked on the Hearse Road near the Kilcrea Gate," he added.
Newbridge House says stag found beheaded will be 'hugely missed'
Mr Smith also appealed for anyone who may have "noticed anything out of the ordinary" to contact gardaí or the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Staff say they have no doubt the head was taken as a trophy.
The animal's body was discovered when staff went to feed the herd of Irish red deer.
They say the herd of 16 Irish red deer have been kept in a fenced area of the grounds of Newbridge House for more than two decades and that nothing of this nature has ever occurred before.
The stag was the older of two stags in the herd and was the dominant male.
Mayor of Fingal Councillor Tom O'Leary condemned the incident, adding that it is "truly shocking that someone would carry out this act".
In a statement, Mr O'Leary said he had visited the park with his granddaughters "who really enjoyed meeting the stag and deer".
"A wonderful animal to behold close up," he added.
He appealed for anyone with information to contact the gardaí or the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
"It is illegal to kill deer without a licence and I hope that the perpetrators can be brought to justice," Mr O'Leary said.
Ivan Smith said those who work at the site are "absolutely shocked" by the incident.
"He was a lovely stag with a beautiful pair of antlers and was a big favourite with the public who walk through the park," Mr Smith said.
Gardaí said they are investigating a reported incident of wildlife crime which is believed to have occurred on parkland in the early hours of Thursday morning.
In a statement, they said the matter is also under investigation by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and inquiries are ongoing.
Gardaí are calling on anyone who observed activity near Newbridge Demesne between midnight and 2.30am yesterday morning to contact Swords Garda Station 01 6664700, the Garda Confidential line 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
